The barriers go up

But modern Australia has always met these challenges successfully. On the whole our policies of inclusion, and our policies of multiculturalism which have allowed people to celebrate their own cultural identity, have made migration work in this country. Countries without multicultural policies like France have failed in this regard. That’s why the centre-right French Presidential candidate, Nicolas Sarkozy, is actually toying with introducing multicultural policies to get their society back on track.

The Government’s proposal for a high level citizenship test will diminish the universal citizenship that we have successfully established here in Australia. There will be a gradual removal of the common bonds that exist between all people of all backgrounds and between people of all literacy levels in Australia.

Australian citizenship is extremely important. As the leader of the Melbourne-based Sudanese lost boys, Akoch Manheim, has said:

There are no words that truly express how it feels for a stateless person to receive the privilege of Australian citizenship in a country like Australia. An approximation might be the experience of a person who has battled a serious illness, experiencing the borderline of death, only to recover and resume full health. Citizenship is a gift from God of priceless value.

Akoch is right. Citizenship is a gift. And it is often only those that don’t have citizenship that realise how supremely important the gift is.

Human rights are important. An inclusive Australian citizenship is important. Australia shouldn’t retreat into a world of fear and difference. Australia should stand united around a common citizenship open to all people who have lawfully come to call Australia home and pass basic requirements. These are the bonds that unite us and they should not be cast adrift.